Merz elected Chancellor after a second attempt: A new beginning for Germany!

Merz elected Chancellor after a second attempt: A new beginning for Germany!

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the election of the new Chancellor took place in the Bundestag. Friedrich Merz needed two attempts. In the first ballot, he received only 310 votes, missed the required majority of 316 votes and therefore had to go into the second vote. Positive voting behavior was observed in both the Union and the SPD, but the overall consent was left behind the expectations. Of the 621 deputies present, 307 voted no, while three votes were invalid, which also caused horror in the CDU and SPD.

In the second ballot, however, Merz was able to win the election for himself with 325 votes and will now be the tenth Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany in history. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner decreased, which is set in the Basic Law. Merz thanked the MPs for the trust that was shown to him. Congratulations not only came from the churches, but also from various political representatives, including the controversy AfD. Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel was not present due to time constraints.

reactions and concerns

Matthias Mieves, an SPD MP who voted for Merz, expressed concerns and clarified that he did not find this day to be "happy". In particular, he pointed out the promises of Merz to find solutions without new debts or loans, and expressed reservations about the cooperation with the AfD. Mieves emphasized that the expectations of the population should now be in the foreground and that political work should begin. In the period between the electoral groups, the SPD faction met to address the importance of coordination for trust in democracy and institutions.

The view was clearly expressed that the responsibility for the failed election in the first round was not solely with the SPD. There was great unrest in the Union and the SPD about the result of the election, which could also affect the upcoming decisions and future cooperation. So the SPD parliamentary group will be on Wednesday to determine a new tour.

prospects after the election

The agenda remains dynamic because the committees will be occupied in the coming week and working groups are formed. Merz plans to visit Paris and Warsaw in order to strengthen the international relationships of the Federal Republic of Germany. However, the political negotiations could be difficult due to the striking deviators in the political groups. The DAX reacted nervously and after the first choice fell by more than 400 points, which provides information on the uncertainty of the market.

The Bundestag, as a parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, has the important task of choosing the Federal Chancellor, adopting laws and controlling the government. After the failed first ballot, the Bundestag can hold any number of electoral courses within 14 days. In the event of a simple majority, the Federal President would have the opportunity to order new elections if no Chancellor could be elected, which continues to keep the political situation tense.